Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church, Inari, Finland

Pielpajärvi is the old centre of Inari. In former times, there was a winter village of Inari by the shore of this wilderness lake where people gathered to stay for the winter months. The church, built in the winter village in 1760, is one of the oldest buildings in northern Lapland. The reddish church stands on a stone field lined by a beautiful birch wood. A natural-state meadow now grows on the church grounds.

The wooden wilderness church of Pielpajärvi is the second church in this very spot. All the remains of the first church, which was completed in 1646, have disappeared, and only the decaying foundations of a few buildings are left from the winter village. The Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church and the nearby areas form a nationally valuable cultural heritage area. It has also been classified as a regionally valuable landscape area.

The Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church can be visited throughout the year. Information on directions is available on the Inari Hiking Area's webpages.

Reference: Outdoors.fi

Address

Luosmantie 317-679, Inari, Finland

See all sites in Inari

Details

Founded: 1760
Category: Religious sites in Finland
Historical period: The Age of Enlightenment (Finland)

More Information

www.outdoors.fi
www.saariselka.fi
www.360cities.net

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Siida (6,1 km)
Ukonkivi (7,2 km)

User Reviews

Johannes (2 years ago)
Beautiful church completely made out of wood! The trail leading to the church and camping area ist easy, yet I’d recommend sturdy shoes even though it’s also easily doable wearing sneakers. The lake and facilities such as toilets, benches, and a hut with a fireplace and in a great shape! Definitely do this hike when you’re in the area.

Rene Tijs (3 years ago)
What a beautiful hike! One hour walk, without stopping and a big backpack (experienced runner). Heard that the church is not always open, but just go for it. The outside is stunning and if you have the change, talk to the shepherd, he knows a lot about the area. Go there with sun, you get nice pics...

BB_upnorth Lapland (3 years ago)
Beautiful hike through ancient wilderness with ponds and marshes. The hike itself is easy but takes time because of the rocks and stumps. Carefully pick your season for this hike. Children and dogs can come along if they are used to these kind of hikes. Day cabin and fire pit just before the church. Church itself is of historic value and in very good shape.

Sara Martinez (3 years ago)
This was part of the tour and is very spooky m, but it worth it

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Christian Lauw

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Wieskirche

The Pilgrimage Church of Wies (Wieskirche) is an oval rococo church, designed in the late 1740s by Dominikus Zimmermann. It is located in the foothills of the Alps in the municipality of Steingaden.

The sanctuary of Wies is a pilgrimage church extraordinarily well-preserved in the beautiful setting of an Alpine valley, and is a perfect masterpiece of Rococo art and creative genius, as well as an exceptional testimony to a civilization that has disappeared.

The hamlet of Wies, in 1738, is said to have been the setting of a miracle in which tears were seen on a simple wooden figure of Christ mounted on a column that was no longer venerated by the Premonstratensian monks of the Abbey. A wooden chapel constructed in the fields housed the miraculous statue for some time. However, pilgrims from Germany, Austria, Bohemia, and even Italy became so numerous that the Abbot of the Premonstratensians of Steingaden decided to construct a splendid sanctuary.

Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church